TEMPLE, Texas — Tenant Andrew Conroy has stayed at the Rose Garden halfway house in Temple since November. Conroy tried to find work, but as a felon coming out of the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, a job was hard to find.
Conroy said he hadn't always been able to pay rent and was on back pay. At least one other tenant had trouble paying rent as well, but when the halfway house owner told Conroy they were closing the home down, he didn't know what to do.
"We were told a week ago, exactly last Wednesday, they wanted everyone out of the house," Conroy said. "For the last couple days, I've been running non-stop trying to find a place as a second option for everything. I haven't really had much luck. Nobody's accepting anyone right now because of the virus."
Rose Garden Owner Sherri Slaton said over the phone they had to shut the non-profit down because tenants were not paying enough rent to cover utilities and the home couldn't cover the cost. She said the tenants would be forced to leave because the utilities would eventually be shut off.
But can a tenant be forced out of a home in one week if the utilities are shut off? Lone Star Legal Aid Staff Attorney Brandy Howard told 6 News the answer was no. Howard told 6 News Wednesday a tenant who is protected by a rental agreement can stay in a house or apartment until evicted, even if the lights are off.
The halfway house tenants could be evicted for failing to pay rent under normal circumstances. However, on March 18, the Texas Supreme Court sent out "Emergency Order 4" which deals directly with evictions.
Under that order, when it comes to evictions in Texas, "No trial, hearing, or other proceedings may be conducted, and all deadlines are tolled, until after April 19, 2020. "
Once 6 News explained the information from Lone Star Legal Aid to the Rose Garden's property manager and confirmed to owner Sherri Slaton that the Texas Supreme Court order was in place, Slaton said the tenants would be allowed to stay until the deadlines in that order.
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